TEST AND EXAMINATION POINT SCORES USED IN THE
2008 ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTAINMENT TABLES
AND CALCULATION OF KS4 CAPPED POINT SCORE
1.
To enable the calculation of average point scores for pupils at various key
stages, points are allocated to each of a pupil’s test/exam results using the scoring
systems set out in this document.
Key Stage 1
KS1 Point Scores for reading task and reading test levels
National Curriculum
National Curriculum
Points Score Equivalent
Reading Test Level
Reading Task Level
Level 4+
27
Level 3
21
Level 2A
17
Level 2B
15
Level 2C
13
Level 1
9
W – Working towards
3
Level 1
X – Not required to take
Disregard
the test
M – Missing
Disregard
D – Disapplied
Disregard
A – Absent
Disregard
Blank
Disregard
KS1 Point Scores for Writing and Mathematics
National Curriculum test/task
Point Score Equivalent
levels
Writing
Mathematics
Level 4+
27
27
Level 3
21
21
Level 2A
17
17
Level 2B or undifferentiated Level 2 15
15
Level 2C
13
13
Level 1
9
9
X – Not required to take the test
L – Lower than Level 2
W – Working towards Level 1
3
3
M – Missing
Disregard
Disregard
D – Disapplied
Disregard
Disregard
A – Absent
Disregard
Disregard
1
Key Stage 2
KS2 Point Scores for all subjects
National Curriculum Test Level
Point Score Equivalent
5
33
4
27
3
21
2
15
N (Not awarded a test level)
15
B (Working below the level of the tests)
15
Annulled
Disregard
Absent
Disregard
T (Working at the level of the tests but unable to access
Disregard
them)
Pupil will take the test in the future
Disregard
Not eligible for the tests (Not at the end of KS2)
Disregard
Lost scripts
Disregard
Missing
0
S (pending maladministration)
0
L (pupil has left the school)
Disregard
2
GCSE, A levels and ‘equivalences’
National Qualifications Framework
2.
The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) sets out the levels at which
qualifications can be recognised. Only qualifications that have been accredited by
the regulatory authority are included in the NQF. These accredited qualifications are
subsequently approved by the Secretary of State for use by pupils of compulsory
school age or for 16- 18 year olds. Qualifications approved for use pre-16 and 16-18
include general, vocational and occupational categories.
3.
The KS4 Tables report qualifications approved for use pre-16 at level 2, level
1 and Entry level recognised under the NQF. The KS4 Tables also report
achievements in AS levels, advanced Free Standing Maths and Asset Language
qualifications taken early and graded exams with grades 6-8. The Post 16 Tables
report all approved Level 3 qualifications.
Counting a Wider Range of Qualifications
4.
In order to report all approved qualifications in the Tables, the Qualifications
and Curriculum Authority (QCA) assigns figures to all qualifications – on a scale
equivalent to GCSEs and A-levels. These performance measurement figures are
based on the relative challenge and size of a qualification.
5.
QCA have assigned each qualification a threshold contribution figure
expressed as a percentage as well as a point score:
- 2 A levels (and equivalent) contribute 100% to the level 3 threshold;
- 5 GCSEs at A*-C (and equivalent) contribute 100% to the level 2 threshold;
and
-5 GCSEs at A*-G (and equivalent) contribute 100% to the level 1 threshold
6.
Using this formula, a GCSE A*-C is equal to one fifth, or 20% of the level 2
threshold. In the same way, all qualifications included in the KS4 Tables have been
assigned a percentage contribution to the level 1 and 2 thresholds.
7.
Similarly, one A level is equal to half, or 50% of the level 3 threshold. For the
purposes of calculating the average level 3 point scores and contextual value added,
level 3 qualifications are also assigned a "size" relative to A level.
8.
The tables below show, as a guide, a few examples of qualifications at each
level, their threshold contribution, size and points allocation. These are used in the
KS4 and Post-16 Tables when calculating performance measures.
Example of point scores
9.
The following tables list a few of the common qualifications and their point
scores based on the new QCA points system. Other approved qualifications at entry
level, levels 1, 2 and 3 and their point scores can be found on the QCA website
www.ndaq.org.uk
3
Level 1 and 2 performance figures
Qualification
NQF
Level
Level 2
threshold
contribution
Level 1
threshold
contribution
Point score
GCSE - grade A*
Level 2
20%
20%
58
GCSE - grade A
Level 2
20%
20%
52
GCSE - grade B
Level 2
20%
20%
46
GCSE - grade C
Level 2
20%
20%
40
GCSE - grade D
Level 1
0%
20%
34
GCSE - grade E
Level 1
0%
20%
28
GCSE - grade F
Level 1
0%
20%
22
GCSE - grade G
Level 1
0%
20%
16
NVQ in
Level 1
Performing
Engineering
Operations - Pass
0%
120%
168
National
Certificate in
Business - Merit
Level 2
80%
80%
196
BTEC First
Diploma in
Applied Science Merit
Level 2
80%
80%
184
BTEC First
Certificate in
Applied Science Merit
Level 2
40%
40%
92
Functional Skills
Level 2
10%
10%
23
Functional Skills
Level 1
0%
10%
12.5
Functional Skills
Entry Level 1
Level 1
0%
0%
5
Functional Skills
Entry Level 2
Level 2
0%
0%
6
Functional Skills
Entry Level 3
Level 3
0%
0%
7
Asset Language
Level 2
5%
5%
13.8
4
Units – Grade 9
Asset Language
Units – Grade 8
Level 2
5%
5%
12.3
Asset Language
Units – Grade 7
Level 2
5%
5%
10
Asset Language
Units – Grade 6
Level 1
0%
5%
8.5
Asset Language
Units – Grade 5
Level 1
0%
5%
7
Asset Language
Units – Grade 4
Level 1
0%
5%
4.8
5
Level 3 performance figures for use in Post-16 Tables
Grade
Size
Points Grade
Size
Points
GCE/Applied AS level
GCE/Applied A level
A
1
270
B
1
240
C
1
210
D
1
180
E
1
150
BTEC National Award
D
1
270
M
1
225
P
1
165
A
B
C
D
E
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
135
120
105
90
75
BTEC National Certificate
DD
2
540
DM
2
480
MM
2
420
MP
2
360
PP
2
300
Grade
Size
Points
GCE/Applied Double
Award
AA
2
540
AB
2
510
BB
2
480
BC
2
450
CC
2
420
CD
2
390
DD
2
360
DE
2
330
EE
2
300
BTEC National Diploma
DDD
3
810
DDM
3
757.5
DMM
3
705
MMM
3
652.5
MMP
3
600
MPP
3
547.5
PPP
3
495
Advanced Free
Standing Maths
Level 3 Key Skill
A
0.1667
45
P
0.3
63
B
0.1667
40
C
0.1667
35
D
0.1667
30
E
0.1667
25
International Baccalaureate Diploma Passes (no
points are assigned to pupils achieving IB
certificates – Post-16)
Grade Size
Points
Grade
Size
Points
45
5
1380
34
5
1050
44
5
1350
33
5
1020
43
5
1320
32
5
990
42
5
1290
31
5
960
41
5
1260
30
5
930
40
5
1230
29
5
900
39
5
1200
28
5
870
38
5
1170
27
5
840
37
5
1140
26
5
810
36
5
1110
25
5
780
35
5
1080
24
5
750
Please note that NVQ points and contributions will vary depending on the type of
qualification.
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Calculation of capped point score
The Key Stage 4 Achievement and Attainment Tables includes all approved
qualifications in Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2, AS levels taken early and level 3
Free Standing Maths qualifications. A capped point score is calculated, at the best 8
GCSEs or equivalent. The following three steps (and examples below) describe this
procedure:
Step One (see Example 1.0)
Qualifications are compared to the size of a GCSE to determine a volume indicator
(i.e. how many GCSEs is a qualification worth). For example, a GCSE in vocational
subjects (Double Award) is twice the size of a GCSE so would have a volume
indicator of 2.0, a short course GCSE would be 0.5.
Example 1.0 - Pupil results
Qualification
Grade
GCSE
A*
GCSE
E
GCSE
C
GCSE Short Course
A
GCSE in vocational subjects (Double Award)
B
City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Vehicle Fitting
Pass
Operations
Total
Volume
Indicator
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
2.0
Total
Points
58
28
40
26
92
5.0
230
10.5
474
Step Two (see Example 1.1)
The total points value for each qualification is divided by the volume indicator to
arrive at a standardised points figure. For example, a GCSE in vocational subjects
(Double Award) at grade B has 92 points. To arrive at the standardised points figure,
we would divide 92 points by the GCSE Double Award volume indicator of 2.0 (i.e. 92
divided by 2.0 = 46). The standardised points are 46.
Qualifications are then sorted in descending order based on their standardised
points.
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Example 1.1 - Pupil results in descending order
Qualification
GCSE
GCSE Short Course
City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in
Vehicle Fitting Operations
GCSE in vocational subjects
(Double Award)
GCSE
GCSE
Grade
A*
A
Volume
Indicator
1.0
0.5
Total
Points
58
26
Standardised
Points
58
52
Pass
5.0
230
46
B
2.0
92
46
C
E
1.0
1.0
40
28
40
28
Step Three (see Example 1.2)
Once qualifications are ranked, the volume indicators should be summed until a cap
of 8.0 is reached. The total points for qualifications included in the cap should then be
summed to arrive at the capped point score.
N.B. The process allows for fractions of qualifications to be included in the cap
should a particular qualification extend beyond the cap.
Example 1.2 - Pupil results capped at 8
Qualification
Grade
GCSE
A*
GCSE Short Course
A
City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in
Pass
Vehicle Fitting Operations
GCSE in vocational subjects (Double
B
Award)
GCSE
C
GCSE
E
Total (capped)
Volume
Indicator
1.0
0.5
Total
points
1.0
58
1.0+0.5 =1.5
26
Cumulative
5.0
1.5+5.0=6.5
230
2.0
6.5+2.0=8.5
75% of
92=69**
1.0
1.0
8.0
8.5+1.0=9.5
9.5+1.0=10.5
383
The total capped point score becomes (58 + 26 + 230 + 69 = 383).
** Only an additional 1.5 is needed to reach the cap of 8.0 (i.e. 75% of this
qualification is required). Therefore only 75% of the points for that qualification will be
included in the capped point score.
8